National University of Science & Technology (NUST)

NUST Institute of Civil Engineering (NICE)

LAB REPORT
MINI LAUNCHER TASK 5 & 6

Lab Demonstrator(s): ________ _________

School: NICE, SCEE Date: 18/10/2022

Semester: 1st Semester Section: B

Group: D

S.NO NAME REG.NO

1 KAMRAN 405138

2 EHSAN ULLAH 403983

3 SAYED YAHYA 409216

4 SAIF ULLAH KHAN 407291

5 M FAIZAN RAZA 406122

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ABSTRACT:
We performed two lap experiments with mini-launcher. In the first experiment, we had to
determine the relation between vertical distance the ball drops to the square of the horizontal range and plot the
graph. And in the second experiment, we had to show that the momentum [ elastic & inelastic ] before and after
collision is conserved.

THEOPRY:
EXPERIMENT:1
Range is the distance from the nozzle of mini-launcher to the point where the ball
hits. Range is determined by the equation;
˳
while ˳ represent the initial velocity.

Time of flight is given by the equation;

°
The distance along y-axis from which the ball drops

˳
The slope of the graph between and is;
˳

EXPERIMENT:2
This experiment relates with the collision of two ball. We launch a steel ball from
mini-launcher which hits another stationary ball placed on tee attach to mini-launcher. Both balls go opposite
directions. The moment along y-axis is not conserved so we’ll ignore that, however the moment along x-axis is
conserved and we’ll have to find this momentum in this experiment.

BEFORE COLLISION:
Momentum of first body
Momentum of second body 0 :. 0
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AFTER COLLISION:

Now the equations along x-axis is

x ŷ

Where , , &
As y-component of momentum is zero before collision, the equation simplifies to

ELLASTIC COLLISION:
The energy and momentum both are conserved in elastic collision.
˳
2 2 2
The sum of the angles of the balls must be 90°
90°

INELLASTIC COLLISION:
Energy is conserved in inelastic collision, but momentum is not.
The sum of angles after collision of both balls will be less than 90°.
90°

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EXPERIMENT: 1
INTRODUCTION:
This experiment was performed to describe the relation between the square of
horizontal range x and the vertical distance y that the ball drops from its initial height. We measured the distance
from muzzle to board, which is x and the distance the ball drops y as the difference between height of muzzle
and the height at which ball strikes the board. By decreasing the horizontal distance x, we compared the values
with the values of y and plotted a graph. Using the graph, we calculated the slope to get approximate value of
initial velocity as well .
APPARTUS:
 Mini Launcher
 Steel Balls
 Measuring Techniques
 White & Carbon Paper
 Vertical Board
 Graph Paper
PROCEDURE:

 The mini launcher was set up on the stand, and the distance was measured from the bottom to the
muzzle of the launcher.
 The vertical board was placed at distance x from the muzzle, and balls were fired onto the board to get
approximate location of the ball’s impact.
 We attached white paper along with carbon paper to locate the position at which ball strikes and
calculated the difference between muzzle height and height of impact to get the drop in height y of the
ball.
 We kept reducing the horizontal distance x by 10cm after each shot, and noted down the corresponding
values of y for each x.
 The values of x were squared to give , and we plotted a graph of y versus .
 We took 6 values, and the line of best fit of the graph was used to find the slope, and using the slope we
calculated initial velocity ˳

ABSERVATIONS:
We noted that by reducing x, there was a reduction in the values of y. It indicated a proportional relation between
the two variables. The values and the graph are given in the following section.

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DATA ANALYSIS:

Height Along Y (cm) Range (cm) in (cm)

34 2 87 7569

27.2 77 5929

20.9 67 3249

15.1 57 2209

10.5 47 1369

The graph between y and is

y x^2

7569

5929

4489

3249

2209

10.5 15.1 20.9 27.2 34

1 2 3 4 5

Initial velocity calculated by photo gates (expected value) 344.02

The slope of the graph using 1st and the 2nd points

.
The theoretical velocity is calculated as
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˳
Put . , 2

˳
.

˳ . 1

The percentage error would be

. .
%
.

% . %

CONCLUSION:
The experiment performed above concludes that as the value of the range or horizontal
distance x decreases, the distance y also decreases. The proportional behavior of the two variables is shown in
the graph as the trend follows a straight line. The values obtained for the initial velocity and the slope are quite
satisfactory. If the graph was plotted between y and x then there would be a slight curve instead of straight line.
Error observed in the experiment accounted for . % of deviation from the actual value. This may have
resulted due to different people performing the same experiment. The fragile setting of the mini launcher at 0
degree could have caused this to happen. As the shot is fired, the launcher moves by a small margin which
reflects in the error. The error could be in finding the spot as well, as inaccuracy is common when a mark is
made by a pencil on a paper. It could also result from improper measuring technique.

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EXPERIMENT: 2
INTRODUCTION: APARTUS:
In this experiment, two balls are collided using a mini launcher and a collision
attachment. There are 2 types of collisions, elastic and inelastic. In elastic collision kinetic energy and
momentum both are conserved. The momentum of the system before collision must be equal to the momentum
after collision. We check whether the momentum is conserved or not. Also, we make the collision inelastic by
covering a ball with tape and analyzing the results.
APARTUS:
 Mini launcher
 Tee
 Meter Ruler
 White And Carbon Paper
 Steel Balls
 Plumb Bob
DERIVATION:
Momentum before collision and after collision = Momentum after collision
˳ ˳
As ˳ 0 and
So we can also write ˳
Along x component
˳

The time will same as the height is same ˳

Along y component 0

| |
Kinetic energy of the system is
1 1 1
˳
2 2 2
˳

Resolving into factors

= + & = +
() =( ) +( ) + .
( ) =( ) +( )
as dot product of perpendicular components is zero
( ) =( ) +( )
hence
( ) =( ) +( ) +( ) +( )

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PROCEDURE:

 The mini launcher is set up, tee is attached to it.
 The table or the surface on which launcher is placed is covered with white paper, followed by carbon
paper.
 First we find the point of contact of the two balls using a plumb bob.
 We fire a shot with one ball loaded to check for reference x-axis. We connect the point of contact to the
reference point to make this reference x-axis.
 We put the second ball on the tee and test fire a few times to get an idea of where the balls will fall.
Once we have a rough idea, we place carbon papers on those regions.
 When we get the two points where the two balls fall, we connect the point of contact to those points.
 We calculate the angle which the two balls are making with the reference x-axis either by protractor or
by trigonometric ratios.
 Tape up the ball to be placed on the tee, and perform the same steps.

OBSERVATION:
In elastic collision, we see that the angles the two balls make with the reference axis is
approximately 90 degrees. This hints that momentum is conserved.
In inelastic collision, the sum of the angles is nowhere near 90 degrees. It hints that inelastic collision does not
conserve momentum as the tape is applied.

DATA ANALYSIS:
ELLASTIC COLLISION

Length of = 2cm
Length of = 6.8cm

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θ
6.8
θ
2

θ 3.4

. °

Length of = 95.4cm
Length of = 2.5cm
θ
2.5
θ
95.5

θ 0.026

. °

The sum of angles is

. ° . °

.
1) The percentage error in angle 100

° .
%EROR 100
°

%ERROR 16.6%

2) As we have calculated that ˳

And we have = 2cm & = 95.9cm
Putting the values ˳ 2 95.9
˳ 97.9
the exact range is ˳ 112.2

The percentage error in ˳ 100

˳ ˳

112.2 97.9
100
112.2
0.127 100
%ERROR . %

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INELLASTIC COLLISION

Length of = 5.9cm
Length of = 6.0cm

θ
6.0
θ
5.9

θ 1.01

. °

Length of = 54.4cm
Length of = 2.7cm

θ
2.7
θ
54.4

θ 0.0496

. °

The sum of angles is

. °
Which is less then 90°

1 As we have calculated that ˳

And we have = 5.9cm & = 54.4cm
Putting the values ˳ 5.9 54.4
˳ 60.3
While the exact value of ˳ 92.2

The percentage error in ˳ 100

˳ ˳

92.2 60.3
100
92.2
0.34 100
%ERROR %

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3) We also had to prove the following

˳

˳ 5.9 54.4 2.7 92.2

˳ .

4) We also had to find the following

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6 2.7

And the percentage error in this value is

%ERROR %

CONCLUSION:
From this experiment we can confirm that when two balls are collided in a mini
launcher, the momentum is conserved for elastic collisions and it is not conserved for inelastic collisions. When
the two balls are collided without the tape, the angles between the two almost make up to 90 degrees. This
shows us that the path followed by the balls is in accordance with the law of conservation of momentum.
Similarly, when the balls are collided in inelastic conditions (using the tape) the collision does not follow the
momentum conservation laws.
The tape absorbs the incoming momentum of the striking ball, hence it does not give proper angles and
distances correlating to momentum.
The 16.6% error in the angle calculation of elastic conditions can be accredited to the improper setting of
balls, and the fragile nature of the launcher. The error is inevitable if the launcher is not in perfect condition
for every shot. This is not possible as systematic errors and human errors can almost never be avoided. The
angle difference and momentum difference is huge in inelastic conditions due to no conservation of
momentum.

THE END

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